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Gold medal candidates shine on Day 2 in Jeju

The AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships continued with a longer program in Jeju, Korea, where the program of the second competition day was split into two sessions.

Russia’s athletes were in fine form as all of their athletes defeated their rivals, and America’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Marlen Esparza won the bout of the day.

Bout of the day
In the absence of the two top favourites of the Flyweight class (51 kg) in England’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams and India’s five-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte, the strong US boxer Marlen Esparza is one of the main gold medal contenders of the category in Jeju.

The US star is only 25, but she has been a member of the national squad since 2006 when she bagged a bronze medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.

Esparza has prepared well for the current AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, as she has successfully participated in nine tournaments this year, and she had to meet with Mongolia’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Nandintsetseg Myagmardulam in the opening round of the championships.

The American used aggressive tactics against the strong Mongolian boxer, who in turn demonstrated her quick combinations in the second round.

Excluding the second frame, it was the US boxer who controlled their top level and entertaining contest, and who won the battle of the day in Jeju.

Team of the day
Russia’s Sayana Sagatayeva won their National Selection Tournament in February, and the 24-year-old Flyweight class (51 kg) boxer has since only lost one bout, achieving gold medals in various international events.

The rising star arrived as gold medal contender for the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, and started her road to the finals against a tough European opponent, Germany’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Ornella Wahner.

Germany’s star boxer offered an excellent performance in the first part of their bout, but Sagatayeva stepped on the gas and raised the speed of the bout as it progressed, and eventually the Russian boxer’s efforts were enough to win the bout by split decision.

Zinaida Dobrynina joined to Russia’s national squad only last year, but she was able to win the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest in June.

The Featherweight class (57 kg) star had to meet with a tough opponent, Thailand’s Asian Indoor Games winner Peamwilai Laopeam in Jeju, and though the Thai boxer offered effective punches in the opening round, Dobrynina improved in the latter rounds, and eliminated her Asian rival.

Russia’s third triumph on the second competition day was delivered by former two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Sofya Ochigava, who is Katie Taylor’s main rival at the Lightweight class (60 kg).

Ochigava dominated her first fight in Jeju, as the 27-year-old athlete overwhelmed Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chia Ling and advanced to the last 16.

Surprises of the day
Turkey’s Elif Nur Coskun lost to Hungary’s Katalin Ancsin in the quarter-finals of the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest in June, but the Turkish boxer used better tactics against the experienced Hungarian athlete in Jeju, and she was able to strike back her previous loss in their rematch.

Brazil’s Taynna Santos Cardoso won the AMBC American Women’s Continental Championships in Guadalajara two months ago, and defeated London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Adriana Araujo in the final of their National Championships.

The four-time AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion was the favourite in her opening bout against Germany’s Nina Meinke, but the German boxer achieved her best ever performance and advanced to the last 16, causing the biggest surprise of the day in Korea.

Ones to watch
Australia’s two-time National Champion Kristy Harris competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, where she advanced to the quarter-finals of the event but failed in her guaranteed medal bout.

Switzerland’s Sandra Brugger claimed a silver medal at the 2007 EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Vejle, Denmark and following that she took further podium places from various international events.

The Basel-based Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer was too strong for Netherlands’ Mariska Janssen in the preliminary round in Jeju.

Stat/Fact of the day
India’s Pinky Jangra Rani replaced the injured Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte in their team, and she opened with a triumph over Si Haijuan, which was China’s first loss in the 8th AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Central American Champion, and rising hope of the region Atheyna Bylon won her opening bout which was Panama’s first ever victory in the history of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Quotes of the day“I felt good, but I know I will feel better in my next bout in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju. That was my first fight since the Commonwealth Games and I know I was slow to get going, but soon worked out my opponent’s favourite punches and adapted from there in the rest of the contest. It was good to get the first fight out of the way, it always is. I am looking forward to fighting Brazil’s Clelia Marques Costa on Wednesday whom I have been comp sparring in the lead up to this championships,” commented Australia’s Kristy Harris.

“I was too slow in the whole bout against Turkey’s Elif Nur Coskun and my reactions were too late in the tactical situations. I tried to speed up my footwork, but I was not in enough shape to do my plans in the ring. My Turkish opponent prepared well after our first contest in June. I do not know what happened with me, it might be that I was not able to keep my energy after the long travel and my acclimatization was not successful,” said Hungary’s Katalin Ancsin after her loss.

Tomorrow’s program
A further 48 preliminary bouts will be held on the third competition day at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, Korea.

Winners of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg), Bantamweight class (54 kg) and Lightweight class (60 kg) will be secure heir places in the last 16, and Ireland’s London 2012 Olympic Champion and four-in-a-row AIBA Women’s World Champion Katie Taylor will be also in action on Day 3.